Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Defenseman Jan Rutta from Syracuse Crunch

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled defenseman Jan Rutta from the Syracuse Crunch, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today. Additionally, the Lightning have assigned forward Mathieu Joseph to the Crunch.

Rutta, 28, has played in 23 NHL games this season, all with the Chicago Blackhawks, posting two goals and six points to go along with 12 penalty minutes. The Pisek, Czech Republic native was acquired by the Lightning from the Blackhawks in exchange for Slater Koekkoek on January 11, 2019. Since joining the Lightning organization, Rutta has played in seven games with the Syracuse Crunch, recording two goals and six points to go along with a plus-9 rating.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound defenseman has skated in 80 career NHL games, all with Chicago over the past two years, registering eight goals and 26 points to go along with 36 penalty minutes. Rutta spent seven seasons playing in his native country before signing a one-year contract with the Blackhawks on June 8, 2017.

Rutta was originally undrafted.

Single game tickets and packages for the 2018-19 season are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the Crunch office located inside the War Memorial Arena at 800 S. State St. in Syracuse, by calling the office at 315-473-4444 or online through Ticketmaster. For the latest Crunch news, visit www.syracusecrunch.com or follow the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/syracusecrunch), Twitter (@SyracuseCrunch) and Instagram (@syracusecrunch) using #SyrCrunch.